Apparatus for the electric ignition of large internal-combustion engines.



G. HONOLD. APPARATUS FOR THE ELECTRIC IGNITION 0F LARGE INTERNAL GOMBUSTION ENGINES. APPLICATION FILED APR. 1. 1908.

995,676, Patented June 20, 1911.

M. a. '1 .81., -ATru N 5x5 UNITED STATIlil-ZESTENT OFFICE.

GOT'ILOB HONOLD, OF STUTTGART, GERMANY.

APPARATUS FOR THE ELECTRIC IGNITION 0]? LARGE INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Go'r'rnon l-IoNoLn, en gineer, a subject of the German Emperor, residing at 11 Ilqapenlaustrasse, Stuttgart, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for the Electric Ignition of Large Internal-Combustion Engines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

In large internal combustion engines, the smaller the number of revolutions and the larger the volume of the cylinder the greater is the difficulty of obtaining an exact ignition, which, nevertheless, is of particular importance to the efiiciency of the engine. Whereas in a quickly running engine the operation of the interrupter lever for each separate ignition is almost momentary, this ope-ration becomes more prolonged in larger and less rapidly running engines, so that differences may occur ordinarily in the intervals of time between the ignition in successive working cycles and the efliciency of the engine be thereby reduced. When stationary cam surfaces are used for operating the interru Jter' lever, a supplementary adjustment of the distributer parts is extremely difficult and, moreover, can only be effected during intervals in running and thus with uncertain results.

The present invention relates to a construction whereby the cam surfaces or their equivalents, on which the time of ignition depends, are relatively adjustable and adapted to be fixed in any desired position, the construction bein such that the ignition in each cylinder of t e engine may be adjusted during running and with any desired degree of accuracy. The construction does not prevent the general adjustment of the time of ignition of the whole engine, which may be arranged in the manner heretofore usual.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of an interrupter having the improvements according to this invention, and Fig. 2is a section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Of the cam blocks of trips 1, 2, 3 and 4 one, 1, is rigidly fixed the ring of the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 7, 1908.

Patented June 20, 1911.

Serial No. 425,765.

adjusting lever cl while the others can be displaced a certain distance along the circumference upon which they lie. For this purpose cavities a are provided in the ring (1! of the adjusting lever, wherein the cam blocks are situated and have the necessary play; into each cavity extends a pair of set screws Z), 71. The set screws of each pair have their inner ends turned toward each other, which ends bear upon inner inclined faces 6 on the trip or cam block so that by adjusting the screws the block can not only be shifted along the circumference but be pressed firmly inward and maintained in the new position by locking the screws. For guiding the cam blocks there are two annular grooves 0 arranged one in each side member of the ring of the adjusting lever to receive the lateral flanges c, c on the block so that the latter cannot be radially shifted even if the set screws be loose. Each of the cam blocks can thus be adjusted without trouble while running, by sin'iultaneously adjusting both screws, that is, unscrewing one as much as the other is screwed up, so that the cam block always remains held between the two screws. For the general adjustment of the time of ignition there is the usual lever (Z by which the whole ring can be turned.

The cam blocks project into the path of one end of an interrupter lever, 5, which carries a contact point, 6, at its inner end and is normally held in such a position by aspring, 7, that the outer end of the lever will ride upon the cam blocks in the travel of the lever and the contact point, 6, will bear against a contact point, 8, mounted in a block, 9, which is caused to travel in a circular path with the interrupter lever by the armature shaft of a magneto generator. It will be understood that the circuit is closed as long as the contact points 6 and 8 are together but as the parts travel around the ring 03 the end of the lever 5 will be brought against the cam blocks and thereby forced inward so as to draw the point 6 away from the point 8 and consequentl break or interrupt the circuit. As the ignition circuit is controlled by the circuit through the points 6 and 8, it will be seen that the time of ignition or the interval between successive explosions may be easily and accurately controlled by adjusting the cam blocks, as described.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters- Patent is U 1. Apparatus for the electric ignition of large internal. combustion engines comprising a rotary interrupter lever, normally stationary cam blocks adapted to engage and trip the said rotary lever, and means for adjusting the said cam blocks relatively to each other along the pathof the interrupter lever.

2. Apparatus for the electric ignition of large internal combustion engines comprising a rotary interrupter lever, normally stationary cam blocksadapted to engage and trip the said rotary lever, a ring surrounding the said rotary lever and having a number of cavities to receive the cam blocks, means for uiding the said cam blocks on the circum erence of a circle inclosed by the ring, and means for shifting the cam blocks along'the said circumference in their respective cavities.

3. Apparatus for the electric ignition of large internal combustion engines comprising a rotary interrupter lever, normally stationary cam blocks adapted to engage and trip the said rotary lever, a ring surrounding the said rotary lever and having a numdevices, an interrupter lever, a ring surrounding the lever, a plurality of trips mounted in the ring, one of the trips fixed in its relation to the ring and the other trips adjustably mounted thereon, means to cause relative rotary movement of the ring and lever, means to adjust the ring with the fixed trip angularly, and means to adjust the other trips in the ring independently of each other and of the fixed trip.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GOTTLOB HONOLD.

Witnesses:

REINHoLD ELWERT, ERNST ULMER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, I). C. 

